Signing practice varies from one jurisdiction to another. In some markets, signatories sign individual signature pages that are later attached to the final document. In others, everyone signs the whole document electronically. Many cross-border deals involve both.
The Signing module in Legatics is built to support each of these approaches. It sits at matter level, alongside Lists, Binders and Data rooms, so you can manage signing for the whole deal in one place.
How the Signing module works
Signing in Legatics is organised around four areas:
Documents: add the documents that need to be signed, choose how each will be signed and track their progress. You can add documents from your computer or document management system, or push them from a list or data room.
Signers: set up the entities and people signing across the matter. The signers you add can be reused on every document, so you only need to set them up once.
Packs: group what each signer needs into packs, save them as drafts, then send them through Docusign or download them for wet-ink signing.
Signature pages: review and tag the signature pages in counterpart documents. Tagged pages are kept when you upload a new version of the document.
Choosing a signing method
Every document is signed using one of two methods:
Counterpart | Entire document | |
Use it when | Signatories sign specific signature pages | All signatories sign the whole document electronically |
What's sent | Signature pages, or the full document | The whole document |
Sent in | Signer packs, one for each party or signatory | A document pack containing all signatories |
Sent through | Docusign or download for wet-ink, and you can mix both on the same document | Docusign only |
Version needed to send | Any version, including a draft | The execution version only |
Becomes signed when | You match the signed pages and collate | The Docusign envelope is completed |
You can choose the method when you add a document or later, but it can't be changed once the document has been sent.
United States
On United States transactions, signatories usually sign individual signature pages, which are collected and held until closing, when they're released and attached to the final documents. Signing and closing often happen on different days.
How the Signing module helps
Send signature pages early. Counterpart documents can be sent from any version, including a draft, so signature pages can go out before the documents are final.
Signature pages found for you. Artificial intelligence identifies the signature pages in each document and assigns them to the right signatories. Your tags are kept when a new version of the document is uploaded, so you don't need to start again.
A pack for every signatory. Signer packs bring together every signature page a person needs to sign, across all the documents in the deal.
Track every page. See which signatories have returned their pages and which are still outstanding, then match the signed pages to their documents and collate the final executed versions.
In practice
On an acquisition with separate signing and closing, a deal team can send signer packs to every officer well ahead of signing, track returned pages in one view, and collate the executed documents as soon as closing is confirmed.
United Kingdom
United Kingdom deals use both methods. Many transactions follow a virtual signing approach, where signatories sign signature pages for the agreed form of each document. Simpler documents are increasingly signed electronically in full, while deeds that need to be witnessed are often still signed in wet-ink.
How the Signing module helps
Choose the right method for each document. Use counterpart signing for the main transaction documents and entire document signing for simpler agreements, all in the same matter.
Wet-ink and Docusign on the same document. With counterpart signing, some signatories can sign through Docusign while others download their pages and sign in wet-ink, which is useful where a deed needs a witness.
One roster of signers. Set up every company and individual once in Signers, then reuse them across every document in the deal.
Signed documents returned automatically. When a Docusign envelope is completed, the signed document is brought back into Legatics without any extra steps.
In practice
On a financing, the facility agreement might be signed by counterpart signature pages, the security deeds in wet-ink with witnesses, and fee letters electronically as entire documents, all tracked in one place.
European Union
Across much of the European Union, it's common for all signatories to sign the entire document electronically.
How the Signing module helps
One pack for all signatories. Entire document signing sends a single document pack containing every signatory through Docusign.
Only the final version is signed. Entire document signing can only be sent once the document is marked as the execution version, so everyone signs the same, final agreement.
A complete record. Once the envelope is completed, the signed document is returned to Legatics automatically, giving you a clear record of execution.
ℹ️ Note: Some documents or jurisdictions have specific formal requirements, such as notarisation or a particular type of electronic signature. Always check the local requirements for each document before choosing a signing method.
In practice
On a commercial agreement between parties in different member states, the agreed document can be sent to every signatory in one envelope, with the signed version returned to the matter as soon as the last person signs.
Cross-border transactions
Cross-border deals often bring several signing practices together, with signatories in different jurisdictions signing the same documents in different ways.
How the Signing module helps
Mix methods on one document. With counterpart signing, each signatory can sign through Docusign or in wet-ink, depending on what their jurisdiction or organisation requires.
Manage large groups of entities. The matter-wide Signers list makes it easier to manage multinational groups with many signing entities and authorised signatories. Signers who are no longer needed can be archived.
See progress by entity or person. Filter documents and packs by entity, person or status to see exactly who is still to sign.
One place for the whole deal. Track every document across every jurisdiction in one signing view, then import the executed documents into a binder for the closing set.
In practice
On a cross-border financing with obligors in several countries, local signatories can sign the documents in the way that suits them, while the lead counsel tracks every entity's progress in a single view.
Already signing in a list?
Matters that had already started signing inside a list stay on the previous signing view until they're complete. New matters, and existing matters where signing hadn't started, use the new Signing module.
Getting started
Explore the Signing collection on the knowledge base to start signing in your matter.
💬 If you need any further assistance, reach out to customer.success@legatics.com.